Culvert



Feb. 29, 1944. o. w. SCHMIDT ETAL ,3

CULVERT 7 Filed April 12, 1941 2 Sheqts-Sheet 2 I v om v'x. 31531: m VFimrm L. Carswell.

Patented Feb'. 29, 1944 Otto W. Schmidt, Kansas City, Mo., and Firman L.Carswell, Johnson County, Kan's.

Application April 12, 1941, Serial No. 388,294

4 Claims.

This invention relates to culverts, and more particularly to those ofthe arch type. It is well known that this type'of culvert is moresatisfactory because of the greater flow capacity at low water levelsand less head space required for their installation. Other advantagesare that they are of stronger construction and better capable ofwithstanding traffic loads and washes under flood conditions. However,arch culverts have the disadvantage in that they are more expensive anddifiicult to install because they require a foundation structure tosupport the load. For this reason the present trend is toward economy bythe installation of ducts having integral bottoms similar to the oldstyle corrugated conduits, but which are elongated or flattened incross-section to give greater flow capacity at low water levels. Thedeformation required to produce elongated cross-sectionresults in aweakened structure because of flattening of the corrugations at pointswhere the greatest loads are to be sustained. Flattenin of thecorrugations also results in warping of the culvert in the longitudinaldirection thereof. 1

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a relatively inexpensive arch type culvert with an integralbottom having substantially all the advantages of the customary arch andin which the undesirable characteristics of a conduit are eliminated.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an arch-shaped culvertwith an integral bottom having reinforcement at points of greaterstress; to provide a culvert construction which is capable of accuratealignment, capable of easier installation, and more resistant to washesduring times of flood conditions.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved structure, thepreferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an arch type culvert constructed inaccordance with the pres ent invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one end of theculvert.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the culvert at thejuncture of the arch with the culvert bottom, and showingthe securingand reinforcing member which enhances the rigidity of the arch andeliminates necessity of a foundation.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the ends of the members composingthe culvert shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. '7 is a plan View of the blank from which the longitudinalconnecting and reinforcing members are constructed.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view or the longi tudinal member formedfrom the blank.

Fig. 9 is a detail section through a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a similar section through a further modified form.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a further modified form of longitudinalmember.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a culvert constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and which ill-- eludes an arch 2, a bottom 3, longitudinalconnecting members 4 and 5, and wash preventive aprons 6 and 1. Inculverts which are short enough to handle and ship conveniently, theywill consist of a unitary assembly when the parts are connected.However, in longer culverts, and

. those too large to handle conveniently, they are preferably formed insections, as shown in Fig. 1, and the sections interconnected by acoupling band 8, later described.

The arch member 2 of the culvert is preferably formed of corrugatedmetal sheets rolled to arch form andhaving the corrugations 9 extendingtransversely of the culvert. To make a culvert culvert illustrated.

The ends of the sheets are cut squarely across the corrugations, asindicated at l I, to seat upon the corrugations of the bottom member 3.The bottom member 3 is also preferably formed of corrugated sheets withthe corrugations I2 extending transversely of the culvert and having aslight dip I3 in the center thereof to direct flow of water to thecenter of the culvert and provide drainage of the corrugations. Thebottom 3 conforms in length to the arch member and is of sufiicientwidth so that the sides I4 and I5 provide support for the edge faces I lof the arch member, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to provide a finished end for the arch and bottom members, theendmost sheets are rolled retractively, as indicated at l6 and I1, shownin Figs. 2 and 6. The rolled edges provide sockets IS and I9 to receiveangle-shaped rods 2! one leg 2| of which extends into the socket I8 andthe other leg 22 into the socket l9 to form a continuation of thefinished rim. The longitudinal members 4 are to reinforce the culvert atthe bearing point of the arch member on the bottom member and at thesame time provide connections whereby the bottom member is rigidlyattached to the arch member in forming a unitary structure.

The preferred form of angle member is illustrated in Fig. 8 and isformed of flat metal blanks 23 as shown in Fig. '7. The blanks 23 areformed in convenient lengths and have serrated side edges 24 and 25 withthe serrations being spaced in conformity with the spacing of thecorrugations of the culvert members to provide wings 26-41 when theblanks are bent on their longitudinal centers to form angle-like shapeshaving longitudinally straight legs 2829 with the wings 26 and 2'!extending inwardly in substantially parallel relation, as shown in Figs.5 and 8. The leg 28 underlies the corrugations at the side edges of thebottom member and the vertical leg 29 engages the terminal ends of theouter corrugations of the arch member, as shown in Fig. 5. The legs 28and 28 of the angle bars thus extend tangentially of the outwardlyextending corrugations and side edges of the wings 26 and 21 are shapedso that they enter the valleys 30 and 3! formed by the intermediatecorrugations so as to close the spaces between the bottoms thereof andthe upper edges of the leg portions of the angle members, as shown inFig. l. The juncture of the legs of the angle members extend along thesides of the culvert in substantially linear relation therewith so as toprovide a relatively strong joint braced by the angle-shapedconstruction of the connecting members.

As above stated, the longitudinal members are preferably formed inconvenient sections and the ends thereof are overlapped. The anglemembers are secured to the top and bottom members by fastening devices,such as rivets or bolts 32 and 33, extending through openings 34 and 35in the leg portions and through registering openings in the corrugatedarch and bottom members, as best shown in Fig. 4,, the openings in thearch and bottom members being formed in the centers of the outwardlyprojecting corrugations so that the corrugations are drawn tightlyagainst the legs of the angle members. The endmost fastening devicesdesignated 36 and 31 are preferably removable and therefore consist ofbolts which are adapted to anchor the aprons 6 and I to preventunder-wash and erosion at the respective ends of the culvert. The aprons8 and 1 are preferably formed of sheet metal and of sufiicient width toprovide wings 38 and 39 extending beyond the sides of the culvert. Theaprons are of sufiicient height to extend below the bottom of theculverts and into wings extending thereabove, and are provided withinwardly extending ears 4!] and 4| to engage the inner faces of the archmembers, as shown in Fig. l. the ears being provided with openings 42 toreceive the bolts. The upper edge of each apron is preferably providedwith an inwardly directed flange 43 overlying the end of the bottommember, as shown in Fig. 2.

Where the culvert is of extremely long length it is made of sections, asabove described, and the sections are secured together by bands 8,having downwardly turned side edges 45 and 46 engaging over outwardlyprojecting corrugations in the abutting ends of the sections, the bandsbeing secured to the corrugations by fastening devices, such as bolts41, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the bands may be readily applied at thesite of the installation.

fter the culvert has been constructed, but before the aprons 6 and Ihave been applied, it is preferably clipped in a coating material suchas asphalt or the like to apply a coating 48 to seal the joints betweenthelongitudinal members and the corrugations of the arch and bottommembers of the culvert, as shown in Fig. 5. The coating material notonly protects the culvert from corrosion but also seals the culvert andprevents leakage of water flowing therethrough.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 is substantially the same asthe preferred form with the exception that the longitudinal members 43are applied on the inner faces of the arch and bottom members of theculvert and the wings 50 and 5! thereof are struck outwardly to closethe spaces between the corrugations which engage the legs of themembers, as shown in Fig. 9.

The form Shown in Fig. 10 is of similar design with the exception thatthe horizontal legs 52 of the lmigitudinal members are supported on theupper face of the bottom member, while the vertical legs 53 are engagedwith the outer face of the arch member. In this instance the wings onthe vertical legs are struck inwardly and the wings on. the horizontallegs are struck downwardly to cooperate with the legs of the anglemembers in closing the corrugations.

Fig. 11 shows a further form of longitudinal member. Ihis longitudinalmember is formed of an angle 54 having the upper portions of thehorizontal and vertical legs struck inwardly, as at 55, to close thespaces between the vertical legs of the corrugations.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided an arch-shapedculvert wherein the arch member is rigidly supported on the bottommember and retained'by the reinforcing longitudinal members so that thenecessity of a foundation is eliminated, the bottom member formingsufiicient bearing to support the weight of the arch and at the sametime forming the transverse member of a truss over which the arch memberis the upper chord. The longitudinal members also distribute loads onthe culvert in the longitudinal direction. A culvert formed as describedmay be readily assembled and all the parts aligned to provide aduct-like culvert which is of straight formation so as to provideadequate drainage of the water therethrough.

Our improved construction also provides for making the culvert with abottom. of heavier gage metal than the top if such is found to benecessary in larger culverts, such as those used in railroad work.Another advantage with our improved culvert is that the bottom cornersthereof conform to the shape of the ditch and therefore have positivebearing in supporting the load and preventing water from washing underthe bottom thereof.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A culvert including an arch-shaped top member, a substantially flatbottom member having longitudinal edges in juxtaposition with sides ofsaid arch-shaped member, said arch-shaped member being formed ofcorrugated material having the corrugations extending transverselythereof, angle bars having longitudinally straight legs extendingtangentially across the corrugations in lapping relation with sides ofthe archshaped top member and a face of the bottom member, said anglebars having the juncture of the legs extending in linear relation Withthe sides of said culvert, wings projecting from said legs which extendtangentially across the corrugations of the top member and arranged toclose space [between the corrugations intermediate tangent points ofsaid legs, and means securing the legs of said angle bars to therespective top and bottom members.

2. A culvert including an arch-shaped top member, a substantially flatbottom member having longitudinal edges in juxtaposition with sides ofsaid arch-shaped member, said members being formed of corrugatedmaterial having the corrugations extending transversely thereof, anglebars having longitudinally straight legs extending tangentially acrossthe corrugations in lapping relation with sides of the arch-shaped topmember and a face of the bottom member, said angle bars having thejuncture of the legs extending in linear relation with sides of saidculvert, wings projecting from said legs and arranged to close the spacebetween the corrugations intermediate tangent points of said legs,

having the corrugations extending transversely and means securing thelegs of said angle bars thereof, angle bars having longitudinallystraight legs extending tangentially across the corrugations in lappingrelation with sides of the archshaped top member and a face of thebottom member, said angle bars having the juncture of the legs extendingin linear relation with sides of said culvert, wings projecting fromsaid legs which extend tangentially across the corruga tion of thearch-shaped top member and arranged to close the space between thecorrugations intermediate tangent points of said legs, means securingthe legs of said angle bars to the respective top and bottom members,and a plastic coating material covering said members to seal the jointsbetween said members including spaces between the wings and saidcorrugations.

4. A culvert including an arch-shaped top member, a substantially flatbottom member having longitudinal edges in juxtaposition with sides ofsaid arch-shaped member, said members being formed of corrugatedmaterial having the corrugations extending transversely thereof, angle(bars having longitudinally straight legs extending tangentially acrossthe corrugations in lapping relation with sides of the arch-shaped topmember and a face of the bottom member, said angle bars having thejuncture of the legs extending in linear relation with sides of saidculvert, wings projecting from said legs and arranged to close the spacebetween the corrugations intermediate tangent points of said legs, meanssecuring the legs of said angle bars to the respective top and bottommembers, and a plastic coating material covering said members to sealthe joints therebetween including any spaces between the wings and saidcorrugations.

OTTO W. SCHMIDT. FIRMAN L. CARSWELL.

